Top Rated Robot Vacuums
A robot vacuum can keep your floors clean enough to decrease the frequency of manual hoovering. Choose a robot vacuum that has good navigation, is able to clean stairs and corners, and that has large bins that will need to be cleaned out every now and then.
There are also models that mop and charge themselves, a feature that may be important for people with children or pets. A majority of the top performers in our tests have excellent obstacle avoidance.
1. IRobot Roomba i3+ EVO
The i3+ EVO is similar to its sibling, the i3 EVO. They differ only in that the i3+ has self-emptying capabilities. That makes the i3+ a good choice for people who want a hands-off, fully automated cleaning experience, but don't mind manually emptying their robot's dustbin as it gets full.
Both robots excel at cleaning up surface debris from carpets and hard floors, and they're excellent in getting around furniture and other obstacles. iAdapt navigation software creates smart maps of your home that help the i3+ EVO navigate and clean in a way that maximizes efficiency. However, unlike the i7+ or other top-rated robots we evaluated the i3+ doesn't have obstacle-avoidance capabilities which means it can be stuck on things like socks or power cords and it may have trouble navigating across surface transitions like hardwood to rug.
iRobot recommends clearing areas in which the i3+ EVO will vacuum before you use it, which includes getting rid of any toys or clutter it might encounter. It's also recommended to keep the bin and filter clean so they aren't clogged by dirt. When the i3+'s internal bin is full or its battery is empty it goes back to its docking station, automatically empties its trash into the station's external dustbin, and then continues cleaning the area where it left off. The i3+ EVO's battery lasts for approximately an hour and a half continuous use. It takes around three hours to recharge.
2. IRobot Roomba i7+
The iRobot Roomba i7+ is the top model in iRobot's flagship line and comes with all the latest features. It is self-charging and self-navigating. But the most important feature is its auto-emptying bin. This eliminates the need for regular maintenance.
The Roomba i7+ is able to remember up to 10 floor plans and their names using Imprint Smart Mapping, which lets it map rooms so it can clean them more efficiently. It also integrates with the iRobot Home app to let you schedule cleaning tasks and direct your robot by voice or through the app.
In our testing the i7+ was faster and more maneuverable than our runner-up which was the eufy RoboVac G30, and it picked up large pieces of pet hair from all surface types including carpeting. The biggest benefit over the eufy, though, is its self-emptying dustbin which removes a major source of maintenance and reduces the amount of time spent cleaning.
We were also amazed by the i7+'s compatibility Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant AI services which we used to instruct the robot to begin, stop or pause its cleaning sessions and move around the room and vacuum a specific space. Connecting the i7+ to these services was simple and easy with the iRobot Home app. Once connected, to voice commands to the i7+ such as "Hey Alexa vacuum the master bedroom." The iRobot Home App also offers options for managing i7+ settings and monitoring performance.
3. Dyson Cyclone V10
This tiny Dyson model is a sports car in a world of cordless vacuums that feel like minivans and buses. It is powerful enough to replace a traditional stand-up vacuum in most homes, but also small enough to fit on a bookcase or coffee table.
The V10 is powered by a 7-cell, energy-dense lithium-ion battery which produces energy that is not faded for 60 minutes. Its advanced whole-machine filter system traps allergens and releases cleaner air back into your home. Its specialized cleaning head drives bristles of nylon that are stiff and deep into carpet to collect large crumbs and fine dust. It has three suction modes to meet the task that is being completed. It quickly switches from floor vac to handheld vacuum and back.
The model also comes with a dock that charges to 100% in 3.5 hours and offers easy access to two attachments and the Wand clip. This is a huge improvement over the older Dysons models, that require a long charge and are difficult to store.
The main issue with the V10 is its limited run time. As CR's tests show, its marketing claims of up to 60 minutes are misleading. This is an average not an extraordinary time for an electric cordless vacuum powered by batteries. It's still enough time to vacuum the majority of a typical-sized home, but not quite long enough to get every single spot (though an additional run-through often will suffice). This model has its own advantages however: it's light and more maneuverable than older Dysons cordless models, and its vacuuming ability is noticeably superior for carpet floors with low pile.
4. iRobot Roomba 694
The 694 is a standard robot vacuum that's an excellent choice for those who don't have lots of money to spend on a robot. It was able to remove the majority of types of debris in our tests and would often go over the same area several times for an efficient clean. Its flat front side helps it to reach into corners and along the walls' edges, which is a nice addition.
Its intelligent navigation system makes use of iAdapt technology to avoid obstacles and guide you through your home. However, it lacks the ability to map that is found in more advanced models, like our top picks, i3+EVO and J7+ Series. This means that it can sometimes get stuck on things like phone cords or furniture that isn't as sturdy, and often will run out of battery before returning to its base.
The Xiaomi Mi robot vacuum is superior to the Roomba 694 in most respects in that it has fewer parts that require regular cleaning It also comes with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, incurs lower costs for recurring maintenance, has more advanced automation capabilities and is more efficient in moving itself. It also has a bigger dustbin and charges faster.
The elegant RoboVac X8 is superior to the Roomba 694 for most purposes, as it has a better battery life, the ability to change its suction power mode manually and comes with physical boundary strips, and is controlled by your smartphone's voice assistant. It also feels better-built, has a more powerful motor, and is able to perform better on floors that are bare and carpets with a low pile, as well as providing a wider array of features for automation.
5. Samsung Jet Bot AI+
Samsung is a household name in home electronics. It's not surprising that they are also among the top producers of robot vacuums and mop. Their Jet Bot AI+ is loaded with cutting-edge onboard intelligence tech for navigation and obstacle avoidance.
The app offers a variety of options for customizing your robotic cleaner. These include mopping levels, virtual barriers and behavior adjustments, docking frequency settings and more. It's easy to comprehend and user-friendly, as is the case with other Samsung devices.
In our tests our tests, the Jet Bot AI+ excelled on hard floors, and also handled dog hair (on carpet) quite well, cleaning up 86% of it. However, it didn't do particularly well at avoiding higher-up objects like cords or socks, which was disappointing. It's priced higher than other models we've tested, and this could be a deterrent for some buyers.
The app lets you access the onboard camera of the smart vacuum. You can also create live streaming from the robot's cleaning zone. This feature allows you to keep track of your pets or kids when you're away from home. The filter and the dustbin can be cleaned to ensure an easy, quick clean-up. The Jet Bot AI+ also comes with a clean and tidy station that's self-emptying to keep the robot's dustbin clean and optimizes its suction power for each cleaning.
6. Black & Decker Robot Vacuum
In contrast to other robotic vacuums which are designed for both hard floors and carpets, Black and Decker robots are designed specifically for hard floors. They feature an extra-wide cleaning path and a larger dust bin that can hold 2X more debris than the competition to keep the area free of debris for the longest period of time. Additionally, robot vacuum sale come with two side sweepers to clean up around edges and in corners. The POWERSERIES Extreme model comes with AutoSense technology, which detects if it's picking up surface litter or embedded dirt and then automatically adjusts its power level. It also has a smart app that lets you see the virtual map and control functions and schedules. Plus, you can monitor the status of the vacuum's battery and then return it to its dock to charge by pressing one button. The app lets you modify the LEDs on the top of the vacuum so that you can tell where it is focused or if it has gotten stuck.
The application also allows you to manually steer the robot if needed. My living room rug for example is darkly colored that could cause trouble for other robots. The HRV 425BL, however was able to continue to move across the border without registering the high point. The ability to program a daily cleaning schedule for each week is a time-saving advantage.